Technology+ Art

It is obvious how technology changes every aspect of our life. This week’s topic allows me to explore how technology changes art, especially in the modern age.

In the research paper “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”, Benjamin examines the impact of modernity on art forms such as film and photography. He claims that the loss of “aura” resulted from the mass reproduction of art. Benjamin draws our attention upon a question of whether the value of the art changes when it is not “original.” In his view, the copy of an artwork, though looks similar to the original work, does not bear the aura of the original work. This continuous reproduction changes the concept of art in our minds because we no longer value the authenticity of an artwork. It also blurs our understanding of the space and time that are associated with art. Art lost its unique connection with the context in which it was created.

Admittedly, I agree with Benjamin’s observation that technology redefines the concept of “art”. However, I don’t agree with him in that the reproduction redefines art in a destructive way. On the contrary, reproduction makes art accessible to most of us. Before “Industrialization”, art was a privilege of the royal class and aristocracy, due to its prohibitive cost. However, the inventions of industrialization enabled the mass production of art and largely reduced the cost of art. As a result, art became more available to the public, as Professor Vesna mentioned in her lecture.

The most compelling example is the invention of lithography in 1796. Alois Senefelder’s invention of lithography provided a cheaper way to print script. As lithography was used in copying artworks in production lines, we are now able to hang the copy of painting on the wall in our home. For me, I got the copy of my favorite painting <Almond Blossom> by Van Gogh in my bedroom and it gives me immense pleasure.

As for the creation of art, we use new forms of medium such as video recording and photography. They are indispensible in our lives and allow us to create art in an extremely easy way. For instance, we take photos with our cellphone and could easily use graphic editing program to edit it.

Citations:

Walter Benjamin. N.d. Photograph.
<http://arcuterie.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/the-work-of-art-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction-walter-benjamin/>.

Walter, Benjamin. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. 1936. Print.

Vesna, Victoria, dir. Robotics pt1. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRw9_v6w0ew>.


"Alois Senefelder." n. page. Web. 21 Oct. 2013. <http://www.radio.cz/en/static/inventors/senefelder>.

van Gogh, Vincent. Almond Blossom. 1890. Photograph. n.p. Web. <http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/index.jsp?page=3128&lang=en>.

da cafe. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. <http://photo.hebei.com.cn/system/2012/08/17/012030258.shtml>.